In order to round 3.445 to the tenths place, shouldn't it first be
rounded to 3.45, then to 3.5? In my daughter's 6th grade math class, they
are told to round it directly to 3.5. Is that the preferred way?

A question on how to subtract 6 1/8 - 3 1/3 leads to examples of
borrowing and regrouping in various contexts, including time, money,
liquid volume, and of course mixed numbers. An alternative approach of
producing an equivalent but easier problem is also presented.